TOGETHER IS BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO SUICIDE PREVENTION

Samaritans of Bournemouth & District will be highlighting the way they work with local organisations to save lives to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2018.

The theme of this year’s event is working together in partnership to prevent suicide.

Samaritans volunteers provide services at the heart of their communities and this includes partnership working with the NHS, the police, schools and other public, private and voluntary sector organisations in order to make suicide prevention more effective.

From joining up with Network Rail, train operators and British Transport Police to prevent suicides on the railways, to specific local partnerships such as volunteers attending hospital A&E’s when people are treated for attempted suicide or self-harm, Samaritans volunteers are working to reduce suicide in their local area.

The Samaritans of Bournemouth & District branch has been working with stakeholders across Dorset to enable the publication of the suicide prevention plan for the County. Charlie, the Branch Director, said “We are keen to work with partners across Dorset to establish a plan that reduces the number of suicides locally”.

Dr Andrew Mayers, Principal Academic at Bournemouth University, is an ambassador for Samaritans of Bournemouth & District and is Chair of the Dorset Mental Health Alliance, another stakeholder for the Dorset Suicide Prevention Plan. He said “As well as working on strategies to reduce suicide, we need to tackle to causes of suicide – notably poor mental health. Around 75% of people who take their own lives are not currently being seen by NHS services. They are more likely to come to the attention of those working in the voluntary and charity sector, such as the Samaritans. We need to be vigilant towards that”

Samaritans across England are also linking up with the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA)’s 250 members and supporters (who include Samaritans, MIND, Rethink Mental Illness, STORM training and Network Rail) working to highlight great partnerships.

Jacqui Morrissey from Samaritans, who co-chairs the NSPA, said: “NSPA members working together are making suicide prevention more effective by using the expertise of partners and relevant organisations like the NHS and the police to reach as many people as possible and make suicide prevention everybody’s business.”

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